July 06, 2008

Crede, Quentin are All-Stars; Dye in Final Vote

The White Sox statistically have the best pitching staff in the major leagues but none of their pitchers was selected for the All-Star Game, although third baseman Joe Crede and outfielder Carlos Quentin were chosen for the first time.

Crede went into Sunday's selection process with just six hits in his last 47 at-bats (.128), while Quentin was in 4-for-31 (.129) slump, although he was tied for second in the league with 19 homers.

The Sox starters most likely to have made it were Gavin Floyd, who is 10-4 with a 3.22 ERA; and John Danks, who started Sunday with the third best ERA in the league behind Oakland's Justin Duchscherer and Cleveland's Cliff Lee, both of whom were chosen.

Among other Sox who thought they had a chance were outfielder Jermaine Dye, tied with Quentin at 19 homers and fourth in slugging percentage, catcher A.J. Pierzynski and relievers Scott Linebrink (1.75 ERA) and Bobby Jenks (29 saves).

Dye is one of five players who will go into a pool for what is called the Final Vote, to be decided by votes of fans. Pierzynski was elected to the 2006 All-Star Team for the Sox in the same spot; Scott Podsednik too in 2005.

I'll confess that the Sox are my second favorite team in Chicago, but Dye should be on the team.
They've got 3 catchers, why not 9 outfielders. Besides, they're playing with a DH. He doesn't have to play the whole game either. A lot of players are getting hosed because the rosters are short.

Hey Keith, Crede got in from the player's vote, showing how much respect he gets from other players, not the fans. He's been overlooked in the past, so it's about time! Not sure why he's made some careless errors this yr, but he also continues to make amazing plays. Normally a gold glove candidate! I hope the Sox resign him.

The White Sox have the best staff in the AL (probably in all baseball) yet none of their pitchers make it? How typical. And probably several other other teams (Devil Rays, Twins, etc.) are similarly overlooked.

I love the Sox and especially JD, but I have to say I agree with Dye not being on the team. His overall stats are very good right now, but he accumalated 42% of his both he HR and RBI over a 2 week period (13% of the season). Outside that recent hot streak, his numbers were not that impressive. I think there are guys that have been consistently good that are more deserving. Go Sox!

Danks and Floyd are both legit all-stars, but the AL is packed with great pitchers this year. You really can't argue with the selections that were made. The selection of Varitek over AJ, however, is an absolute farce.

With game actually having meaning (home field advantage), I think they should take away the fan vote, or at least reduce its significance. Remove the popularity contest. Put the vote in hands of players and coaches with no votes being allowed for their themselves or their teamates. That way the truly best will come out I think.

It just goes to show that the all star game, much like ESPN, is just there to showcase four teams; the red sox, yankees, cubs and dodgers (interchangeable with the mets). Varitek an all-star??? That destroys all credibility of the game.

The sox know that they are #2 in Chitown. Why didn't the team get out the vote for their players? Floyd and Danks are having great years but all we hear about the sox pitching is the team era. When Z and Dempster are going well it is front page news. Instead of motor mouth cursing out everyone to the press how about talking about how great his pitchers are doing and name names. The sox are a team about the organization not individuals. It's a Reinsdorf thing. Remember Krause getting crucified for saying it was the organization and not the players? The way the sox are run it seems that is Reinsdorf's philosophy. It is hard to become attached to a team that is constantly letting players go over salary.

Since when are .260 hitters that lead the entire league in errors (a pathetic 17) even considered in the allstar conversation...while i will admit that dye definitely could have and maybe will still go, it is a joke to think that crede is one of just two reps from the sox... i also dont see dye beating out hometown hero Giambi for that last spot.

And as for everyone who is jealous of the Cubs heavy presence...stop hating on them because there is really no one from that group that you could make a case to cut from the game (cept MAYBE Fuk) but even still you can make a better case as to why DeRosa and D-Lee should be there. Both finished top 2 in voting at their position, both are at the top of their position in BA and HRs while DeRosas versatility only adds to his value as an allstar.

I see alot of complaints about how it is such a 'farce' and so unfair cuz of player voting...well outside of the fact that the sox play in one of the biggest market cities in the nation (which should equal high voter turnout i.e. Cubs) BUT the fans did not vote for the pitchers OR the reserves... so that pretty much defeats that whole argument...maybe if AJ wasnt hated or was somewhat respected throughout the league he woulda made it and im pretty sure that Terry Francona and the rest of the MLB PROFESSIONAL COACHES know a lil bit more than all you fans who are sittin here bashin the voters for knowing so much less than you guys...checkmate.

This is typical. Let the Cubs get all the media now....and come October when they have their new black cat, bartman, goat, etc....we'll be still cheering and watching them go deep into playoffs and hopefully bring home a 2nd series in this century.

I bet that if the Cubs had only one All Star you guys wouldn't be crying so much. The Cubs have always had the best fans in baseball and always will! Deal with it! Now stop complaining and vote! That's how the players get to be in the All Star game.

I bet that if the Cubs had only one All Star you guys wouldn't be crying so much. The Cubs have always had the best fans in baseball and always will! Deal with it! Now stop complaining and vote! That's how the players get to be in the All Star game.

Being a Cubs fan I think it's funny hearing all this talk about the Cubs players making the All-Star team. Like they dont deserve making the team? However I do believe that Dye could have made the team. Crede making the team is a joke. He makes error after error and still makes the team? Awful

The Cubs/Sox rivalry aside, something is wrong with the MLB All-Star voting system when a team, the White Sox, in first place most of the season and possessing statistically the best pitching staff in baseball, send just one player more than lowly Kansas City and Pittsburgh (minimum one) will send. Either that or the Sox simply have no All-Stars and Ozzie is the best manager in the world. Which one is it Cub fans?

I'm a Cub fan, but, I have to admit, the Sox got hosed in this All-Star game. How can they not have any pitchers on this team? Their bullpen is unhitable and their starters are doing a great job. Just goes to show, as long as you're in the AL, the Yankoffs and Red Sox will always corner the market. The Yanks are 9 games out and get more representation than the, first place, White Sox.
And, how does Derrick Lee not, at least, get placed in the final vote?

The Cubs/Sox rivalry aside, something is wrong with the MLB All-Star voting system when a team, the White Sox, in first place most of the season and possessing statistically the best pitching staff in baseball, send just one player more than lowly Kansas City and Pittsburgh (minimum one) will send. Either that or the Sox simply have no All-Stars and Ozzie is the best manager in the world. Which one is it Cub fans?

Dave???
Dye Doesnt deserve to make it because he accumulated those #'s over a two week period???
So what, so did many other players in the league its called a hot streak u idiot. Thats how players accumulate big stats over the year they get on hot streaks then have some down time. They just have to limit those slumps. Do u notice players hit hrs in bunches then go a lil while without hitting any. Dave u r offically baseball dumb. Dye Deserves to go because his play has been all-star calliber, and the numbers are great no matter when he accumulated them. Just the fact that he has them prior to the all-star game to gage his production so far.

Aj worst defensive catcher? That Statement Shows just how lil u do know. First of all you cant look at the number of runners he has thrown out cause Jose, Javier, and Foyd are so slow to the plate it is almost a joke. They very rarely hold runners on and many times the stolen base is on them and not AJ. He has a career fielding % of .995 while Varitek is.993 um?? . You cubs fans really know nothing about baseball. Please worry about your own team. As for more catchers that have made the all-star team and their fielding % how about Posada .992 career.

die hard cubs fan here, and all i got to say is that the sox got hosed. Dye should be starting in RF and aj should have gotten the nod over varitek. also someone on your pitching staff should have gotten in. Can't disagree with the cubs selections except fukudome. its a joke that he got in. Don't get me wrong, i love him and he is a solid player, but pat burrell deserves it more than him.